By the Citizen Potawatomi Nation Department of Education
College and scholarship applications often ask for a letter of recommendation. Choosing individuals for these letters can be daunting, with multiple options for who to ask and important factors to consider when choosing. It is important for students to get involved with different organizations or sports to create relationships with faculty advisors and coaches. Coaches will have seen their student athletes at their worst and their best, which gives them a unique perspective.
Certain scholarships will ask about the student’s different aspects, such as strengths or weaknesses. They may also ask about how students handled themselves in certain experiences. Some students can stand out with recommendations from an elected Tribal official or Tribal staff, like your legislator or your advisor in the Department of Education. By forming a strong relationship to an individual within the Tribe, students can learn about the Nation while forming a connection that could provide a strong letter of reference. It is beneficial for students to be involved in a variety of activities to build relationships and broaden their views. Personal relationships will always yield stronger recommendations than letters written based solely on a resume.
The choice of who to ask depends on the scholarship. For example, having a strong faculty recommendation is helpful for an AISES scholarship, especially if the faculty member is familiar with your science, technology, engineering or math interests. It is important for you to ask someone who has been a mentor, such as a science teacher who runs your after-school robotics club. Creating a relationship with a teacher while involved in a club allows the teacher to see certain traits you display (such as perseverance) or how you handle stress. This helps them list your specific traits and behaviors. Highlighting your involvement with a variety of groups is also important. If your scholarship essay was heavily influenced by a baseball team playoff run, it would be helpful to ask for a recommendation letter from someone from one of your other interests, such as an advisor for robotics club.
Certain scholarships will ask for multiple references. For example, Native Forward asks for two references. In addition to a teacher, a manager or a supervisor could be a good reference. If you were particularly close with a former manager at a part-time job, the manager may be a good option and would be able to speak highly of your work ethic and resilience. If a student has a strong relationship with their culture, they could ask for a reference from an individual with whom they have a strong connection within the culture. For example, if a student is involved in historical preservation and has participated in numerous projects, it would be beneficial to ask the individual who oversaw the project. The project coordinator would be a strong reference in the sense that they see your passion for the project, as well as your interest in the culture.
Choosing the best option for the scholarship can be daunting, but a student can make it much easier by forging as many relationships as possible. Choosing the right individual for the reference letter may be circumstantial, but having a variety of options allows for a complete view of the individual.
Your Student Success Advisor at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation can serve as a reference. Make an appointment with us through portal.potawatomi.org, email at [email protected] or phone call at 405-695-6028. It is best if we are able to meet you multiple times, and providing a resume can help us get to know you.